Optical Bonding Technician

Responsibilities

• Verify components, surface condition, approved materials, and current bonding instructions before beginning an assembly.
• Clean and prepare optics and mating surfaces, protecting coatings and preventing contamination or damage during handling.
• Prepare and dispense approved adhesives; maintain material identification, shelf-life controls, and required process records.
• Set up bonding fixtures and position components with optical engineers, preserving the required alignment and bond geometry.
• Execute controlled curing procedures and record specified settings while protecting component position and optical cleanliness.
• Inspect completed bonds for workmanship and visible defects; support post-cure alignment checks and report deviations to Engineering and Quality.
• Maintain component and adhesive traceability, completed work records, and inspection results; perform rework only under approved instructions.
• Maintain clean bonding stations, dispensing tools, fixtures, and material storage; support engineer-led process improvements and follow laboratory and chemical-safety procedures.

Experience & Education

• Four-year degree in science, applied research, or technology or equivalent certificates/industry experience
• 3+ years of hands-on precision optical bonding or closely related adhesive-based microassembly using controlled procedures.
• Experience with optical cleaning, microscope-assisted work, precision dispensing, fixturing, controlled curing, and visual inspection.
• Experience bonding coated optics or optomechanical assemblies for lasers, quantum hardware, or scientific instruments preferred.

Qualifications

• Strong manual precision when handling small optical components, dispensing adhesives, and working with microscopes and assembly fixtures.
• Ability to read assembly drawings and follow bonding instructions, including orientation, protected surfaces, and inspection points.
• Practical knowledge of adhesive handling, shelf-life controls, curing records, and contamination prevention.
• Ability to recognize bond defects, movement, or optical surface damage and report concerns before work continues.
• Accurate process documentation and effective teamwork with optical engineers, process engineers, and Quality.
• Capable of lifting and moving objects that weigh up to 25 pounds